Howard police to conduct sobriety checkpoint

Howard County Police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint this weekend at an undisclosed location.

Howard County Police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint this weekend at an undisclosed location. (File)

By Luke Lavoie, llavoie@tribune.com

Howard County police will conduct a sobriety checkpoint this weekend at an undisclosed location.

The checkpoint is being done to "to promote awareness and reduce the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on the roads," and is part of the initiative aimed at keeping county roads safe, according to a news release.

According to police, the checkpoint will be clearly marked with signs, lights and uniformed officers who willutilize both marked and unmarked vehicles and will be checking for violations including driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to use seat belts and failure to use child safety seats.

In 2012, Howard County police arrested 1,174 individuals for driving under the influence. Thirty percent of Howard County’s fatal collisions in 2012 were alcohol-related, police said.